Before you make your way to Islay, make sure you’ve figured out how to get your Scotch home. Read our Tips and Tricks for Traveling with Wine – all of the advice is also applicable to Scotch.
We’ve shared before why Islay was one of our favorite parts of our epic Scotland adventure. Today, we’re breaking down a simple three day itinerary to help you see the sights (and taste amazing Scotch).
Have questions about a trip to Islay? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Visiting Islay, then come back here for the itinerary.
Arrival (Day 0)
Fly in or arrive via the evening ferry. Drive down to Port Ellen and check in to the Islay Hotel (book the best rate via Booking.com).
Grab a drink in the bar and begin orienting your palate to the peaty Scotch you’ll be sampling tomorrow. A sweeter Bunnahabhain will ease you in – don’t jump right to the firey Ardbeg!
The Islay Hotel, Port Ellen
Day 1 on Islay
Wake up early for a tour at Laphroaig. Make sure you book in advance because tours sell out. We recommend the Warehouse Experience where you can bottle your own straight from the cask – it even made our list of 10 Essential Whisky Experiences in Scotland.
Make your way to nearby Ardbeg for lunch at the Old Kiln Cafe. If time allows, hop on a quick tour at Ardbeg or sample a few drams in the gift shop.
If you have a car, continue down the coast from Ardbeg for about 20 minutes to see the Kildalton Cross and the Kildalton Old Parish Church, which date back to the 8th century AD.
Arrive for the afternoon Warehouse tour at Lagavulin (it’s also on our list of the 10 Essential Whisky Experiences in Scotland). Make sure you ask for small bottles to take your tastings home with you. There’s no way you can drink all the samples they pour!
Stop by the beach outside the Port Charlotte Maltings facility to watch the sunset and enjoy a dram or two from your Lagavulin samples.
Eat dinner in Port Ellen. If you want something more causal, opt for the Sea Salt Bistro and Takeaway. For a more formal meal, dine in the restaurant at the Islay Hotel.
Stay the night again at the Islay Hotel.
Day 2 on Islay
Enjoy the Eggs Benedict at the Islay Hotel, then head out early to Bowmore.
En route, stop by the Laphroaig peat fields (another one of our 10 Essential Experiences in Scotland) to see how peat grows. See if you can find some recent cuts, too!
The Bowmore distillery opens at 9:30, if you’d like a tour, or you can grab a sample in the gift shop if you’d rather check out Port Askaig.
Head to Kilchoman to experience the inner workings of a smaller farm distillery. Grab lunch in their cafe before your tour.
If you want to experience a little Islay nature, there’s a great spot that’s just a short detour from your route to spot otters playing. It’s linked in the map at the bottom of this post.
Drive to Port Charlotte for a tour of Bruichladdich. Leave yourself plenty of time to enjoy the gift shop after. Ask for sample bottles to take your drams with you, especially if you’re driving.
Stay the night at the Islay House, or in Bowmore at the Harbour Inn or Bowmore Cottages. Grab dinner at your hotel and cap off the evening with a dram by the fire.
Day 3
Sleep in (you deserve it!), then make your way to Bunnahabin or Ardnahoe en route to the ferry or airport back to the mainland.
Ready to plan your trip?
Look at our Ultimate Guide to Visiting Islay, or catch up on other posts in our Scotland Travel Guide.
- What to Pack for Scotland
- 10 Essential Whisky Experiences
- Visiting Distilleries in Speyside
- 24 Hour in Oban
- The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Islay
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